Basic Concepts in Computational

Physics 2nd Edition Benjamin A.

Stickler
Visit to download the full and correct content document:
https://textbookfull.com/product/basic-concepts-in-computational-physics-2nd-edition-
benjamin-a-stickler/
More products digital (pdf, epub, mobi) instant
download maybe you interests ...

Basic Concepts Of Inorganic Chemistry 2nd Edition D.N.

Singh

https://textbookfull.com/product/basic-concepts-of-inorganic-
chemistry-2nd-edition-d-n-singh/

Basic Chemical Concepts and Tables, 2nd Edition Steven

L. Hoenig

https://textbookfull.com/product/basic-chemical-concepts-and-
tables-2nd-edition-steven-l-hoenig/

Solid State Physics: Essential Concepts 2nd Edition

David W. Snoke

https://textbookfull.com/product/solid-state-physics-essential-
concepts-2nd-edition-david-w-snoke/

Computational Methods in Physics Simon Širca

https://textbookfull.com/product/computational-methods-in-
physics-simon-sirca/
Computational Physics A Practical Introduction to
Computational Physics and Scientific Computing using C
Konstantinos N. Anagnostopoulos

https://textbookfull.com/product/computational-physics-a-
practical-introduction-to-computational-physics-and-scientific-
computing-using-c-konstantinos-n-anagnostopoulos/

Theoretical and computational physics of gas discharge

phenomena a mathematical introduction 2nd Edition
Sergej T. Suržikov

https://textbookfull.com/product/theoretical-and-computational-
physics-of-gas-discharge-phenomena-a-mathematical-
introduction-2nd-edition-sergej-t-surzikov/

A Basic Course in Probability Theory 2nd Edition Rabi

Bhattacharya

https://textbookfull.com/product/a-basic-course-in-probability-
theory-2nd-edition-rabi-bhattacharya/

Basic Semiconductor Physics 3rd Edition Chihiro

Hamaguchi

https://textbookfull.com/product/basic-semiconductor-physics-3rd-
edition-chihiro-hamaguchi/

Statistical Methods An Introduction to Basic

Statistical Concepts and Analysis 2nd Edition Cheryl
Ann Willard

https://textbookfull.com/product/statistical-methods-an-
introduction-to-basic-statistical-concepts-and-analysis-2nd-
edition-cheryl-ann-willard/
Benjamin A. Stickler · Ewald Schachinger

Basic
Concepts in
Computational
Physics
Second Edition
Basic Concepts in Computational Physics
Benjamin A. Stickler • Ewald Schachinger

Basic Concepts
in Computational Physics

Second Edition

123
Benjamin A. Stickler Ewald Schachinger
Faculty of Physics Institute of Theoretical and Computational
University of Duisburg-Essen Physics
Duisburg Graz University of Technology
Germany Graz, Austria

Supplementary material and data can be found on extras.springer.com

ISBN 978-3-319-27263-4 ISBN 978-3-319-27265-8 (eBook)

DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27265-8

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015959954

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014, 2016

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of
the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation,
broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information
storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication
does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant
protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book
are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or
the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any
errors or omissions that may have been made.

Printed on acid-free paper

This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature

The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland
Preface

Traditionally physics is divided into two fields of activities: theoretical and experi-
mental. As a consequence of the stunning increase in computer power and of the
development of more powerful numerical techniques, a new branch of physics
was established over the last decades: Computational Physics. This new branch
was introduced as a spin-off of what nowadays is commonly called computer
simulations. They play an increasingly important role in physics and in related
sciences as well as in industrial applications and serve two purposes, namely:
• Direct simulation of physical processes such as
ı Molecular dynamics or
ı Monte Carlo simulation of physical processes
• Solution of complex mathematical problems such as
ı Differential equations
ı Minimization problems
ı High-dimensional integrals or sums
This book addresses all these scenarios on a very basic level. It is addressed
to lecturers who will have to teach a basic course/basic courses in Computational
Physics or numerical methods and to students as a companion in their first steps into
the realm of this fascinating field of modern research. Following these intentions
this book was divided into two parts. Part I deals with deterministic methods in
Computational Physics. We discuss, in particular, numerical differentiation and
integration, the treatment of ordinary differential equations, and we present some
notes on the numerics of partial differential equations. Each section within this part
of the book is complemented by numerous applications. Part II of this book provides
an introduction to stochastic methods in Computational Physics. In particular, we
will examine how to generate random numbers following a given distribution,
summarize the basics of stochastics in order to establish the necessary background
to understand techniques like MARKOV-Chain Monte Carlo. Finally, algorithms of
stochastic optimization are discussed. Again, numerous examples out of physics like

v
vi Preface

diffusion processes or the POTTS model are investigated exhaustively. Finally, this
book contains an appendix that augments the main parts of the book with a detailed
discussion of supplementary topics.
This book is not meant to be just a collection of algorithms which can
immediately be applied to various problems which may arise in Computational
Physics. On the contrary, the scope of this book is to provide the reader with a
mathematically well-founded glance behind the scene of Computational Physics.
Thus, particular emphasis is on a clear analysis of the various topics and to even
provide in some cases the necessary means to understand the very background
of these methods. Although there is a barely comprehensible amount of excellent
literature on Computational Physics, most of these books seem to concentrate either
on deterministic methods or on stochastic methods. It is not our goal to compete with
these rather specific works. On the contrary, it is the particular focus of this book to
discuss deterministic methods on par with stochastic methods and to motivate these
methods by concrete examples out of physics and/or engineering.
Nevertheless, a certain overlap with existing literature was unavoidable and we
apologize if we were not able to cite appropriately all existing works which are of
importance and which influenced this book. However, we believe that by putting the
emphasis on an exact mathematical analysis of both, deterministic and stochastic
methods, we created a stimulating presentation of the basic concepts applied in
Computational Physics.
If we assume two basic courses in Computational Physics to be part of the cur-
riculum, nicknamed here Computational Physics 101 and Computational Physics
102, then we would like to suggest to present/study the various topics of this book
according to the following syllabus:
• Computational Physics 101:
– Chapter 1: Some Basic Remarks
– Chapter 2: Numerical Differentiation
– Chapter 3: Numerical Integration
– Chapter 4: The KEPLER Problem
– Chapter 5: Ordinary Differential Equations: Initial Value Problems
– Chapter 6: The Double Pendulum
– Chapter 7: Molecular Dynamics
– Chapter 8: Numerics of Ordinary Differential Equations: Boundary Value
Problems
– Chapter 9: The One-Dimensional Stationary Heat Equation
– Chapter 10: The One-Dimensional Stationary SCHRÖDINGER Equation
– Chapter 12: Pseudo-random Number Generators
• Computational Physics 102:
– Chapter 11: Partial Differential Equations
– Chapter 13: Random Sampling Methods
– Chapter 14: A Brief Introduction to Monte Carlo Methods
– Chapter 15: The ISING Model
Preface vii

– Chapter 16: Some Basics of Stochastic Processes

– Chapter 17: The Random Walk and Diffusion Theory
– Chapter 18: MARKOV-Chain Monte Carlo and the POTTS Model
– Chapter 19: Data Analysis
– Chapter 20: Stochastic Optimization
The various chapters are augmented by problems of medium complexity which
help to understand better the numerical part of the topics discussed within this book.
Although the manuscript has been carefully checked several times, we cannot
exclude that some errors escaped our scrutiny. We apologize in advance and would
highly appreciate reports of potential mistakes or typos.
Throughout the book SI-units are used except stated otherwise.

Graz, Austria Benjamin A. Stickler

July 2015 Ewald Schachinger
Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Profs. Dr. C. Lang and Dr. C. Gattringer (Karl-Franzens
Universität, Graz, Austria) and to Profs. Dr. W. von der Linden, Dr. H.-G. Evertz,
and Dr. H. Sormann (Graz University of Technology, Austria). They inspired this
book with their lectures on various topics of Computational Physics, computer sim-
ulation, and numerical analysis. Last but not least, the authors thank Dr. Chris Theis
(CERN) for meticulously reading the manuscript, for pointing out inconsistencies,
and for suggestions to improve the text.

ix
Contents

1 Some Basic Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.1 Motivation .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Roundoff Errors .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Methodological Errors .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.4 Stability .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.5 Concluding Remarks.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Part I Deterministic Methods

2 Numerical Differentiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.2 Finite Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.3 Finite Difference Derivatives .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2.4 A Systematic Approach: The Operator Technique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2.5 Concluding Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3 Numerical Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
3.2 Rectangular Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
3.3 Trapezoidal Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.4 The SIMPSON Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
3.5 General Formulation: The NEWTON-COTES Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3.6 GAUSS-LEGENDRE Quadrature .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
3.7 An Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
3.8 Concluding Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

xi
xii Contents

4 The KEPLER Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4.2 Numerical Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
5 Ordinary Differential Equations: Initial Value Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
5.2 Simple Integrators.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
5.3 RUNGE-KUTTA Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
5.4 Hamiltonian Systems: Symplectic Integrators ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
5.5 An Example: The KEPLER Problem, Revisited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
6 The Double Pendulum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
6.1 HAMILTON’s Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
6.2 Numerical Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
6.3 Numerical Analysis of Chaos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
7 Molecular Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
7.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
7.2 Classical Molecular Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
7.3 Numerical Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
8 Numerics of Ordinary Differential Equations: Boundary
Value Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
8.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
8.2 Finite Difference Approach.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
8.3 Shooting Methods .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
9 The One-Dimensional Stationary Heat Equation . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
9.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
9.2 Finite Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
9.3 A Second Scenario .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Contents xiii

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
10 The One-Dimensional Stationary SCHRÖDINGER
Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
10.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
10.2 A Simple Example: The Particle in a Box . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
10.3 Numerical Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
10.4 Another Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
11 Partial Differential Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
11.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
11.2 The POISSON Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
11.3 The Time-Dependent Heat Equation .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
11.4 The Wave Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
11.5 The Time-Dependent SCHRÖDINGER Equation .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

Part II Stochastic Methods

12 Pseudo-random Number Generators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
12.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
12.2 Different Methods.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
12.3 Quality Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
13 Random Sampling Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
13.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
13.2 Inverse Transformation Method .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
13.3 Rejection Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
13.4 Probability Mixing .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
14 A Brief Introduction to Monte-Carlo Methods . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
14.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
14.2 Monte-Carlo Integration .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
14.3 The METROPOLIS Algorithm: An Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
xiv Contents

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
15 The ISING Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
15.1 The Model .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
15.2 Numerics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
15.3 Selected Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
16 Some Basics of Stochastic Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
16.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
16.2 Stochastic Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
16.3 MARKOV Processes .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
16.4 MARKOV-Chains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
16.5 Continuous-Time MARKOV-Chains . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
17 The Random Walk and Diffusion Theory . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
17.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
17.2 The Random Walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
17.3 The WIENER Process and Brownian Motion . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
17.4 Generalized Diffusion Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
18 MARKOV-Chain Monte Carlo and the POTTS Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
18.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
18.2 MARKOV-Chain Monte Carlo Methods . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
18.3 The POTTS Model.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
18.4 Advanced Algorithms for the POTTS Model . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
19 Data Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
19.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
19.2 Calculation of Errors .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
19.3 Auto-Correlations .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
19.4 The Histogram Technique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Contents xv

20 Stochastic Optimization .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323

20.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
20.2 Hill Climbing.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
20.3 Simulated Annealing.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
20.4 Genetic Algorithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
20.5 Some Further Methods.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338

A The Two-Body Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341

B Solving Non-linear Equations: The NEWTON Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347

C Numerical Solution of Linear Systems of Equations .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349

C.1 The LU Decomposition .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
C.2 The GAUSS-SEIDEL Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353

D Fast Fourier Transform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357

E Basics of Probability Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363

E.1 Classical Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
E.2 Random Variables and Moments .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
E.3 Binomial Distribution and Limit Theorems . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
E.4 POISSON Distribution and Counting Experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
E.5 Continuous Variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
E.6 BAYES’ Theorem.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
E.7 Normal Distribution.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
E.8 Central Limit Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
E.9 Characteristic Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
E.10 The Correlation Coefficient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
E.11 Stable Distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373

F Phase Transitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375

F.1 Some Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
F.2 LANDAU Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376

G Fractional Integrals and Derivatives in 1D . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379

H Least Squares Fit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381

H.1 Motivation .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
H.2 Linear Least Squares Fit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
H.3 Nonlinear Least Squares Fit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
xvi Contents

I Deterministic Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387

I.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
I.2 Steepest Descent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
I.3 Conjugate Gradients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
References .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399

Index . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Chapter 1
Some Basic Remarks

1.1 Motivation

Computational Physics aims at solving physical problems by means of numerical

methods developed in the field of numerical analysis [1, 2]. According to I. JACQUES
and C. JUDD [3], it is defined as:
Numerical analysis is concerned with the development and analysis of methods for the
numerical solution of practical problems.

Although the term practical problems remained unspecified in this definition, it

is certainly necessary to reflect on ways to find approximate solutions to complex
problems which occur regularly in natural sciences. In fact, in most cases it is not
possible to find analytic solutions and one must rely on good approximations. Let
us give some examples.
Consider the definite integral
Z b  
dx exp x2 ; (1.1)
a

which, for instance, may occur when it is required to calculate the probability that
an event following a normal distribution takes on a value within the interval Œa; b,
where a; b 2 R. In contrast to the much simpler integral
Z b
dx exp .x/ D exp .b/  exp .a/ ; (1.2)
a

the integral (1.1) cannot be solved analytically

 because there is no elementary
function which differentiates to exp x2 . Hence, we have to approximate this
integral in such a way that the approximation is accurate enough for our purpose.
This example illustrates that even mathematical expressions which appear quite

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 1

B.A. Stickler, E. Schachinger, Basic Concepts in Computational Physics,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27265-8_1
2 1 Some Basic Remarks

simple at first glance may need a closer inspection when a numerical estimate
for the expression is required. In fact, most numerical methods we will encounter
within this book have been designed before the invention of modern computers or
calculators. However, the applicability of these methods has increased and is still
increasing drastically with the development of even more powerful machines. We
give another example, namely the oscillation of a pendulum. We know from basic
mechanics [4–8] that the time evolution of a frictionless pendulum of mass m and
length ` in a gravitational field is modeled by the differential equation
g
R C sin ./ D 0 : (1.3)
`
The solution of this equation describes the oscillatory motion of the pendulum
around the origin O within a two-dimensional plane (Fig. 1.1). Here  is the angular
displacement and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Furthermore, a common
situation is described by initial conditions of the form:
(
.0/ D 0 ;
(1.4)
P
.0/ D0:

For small initial angular displacements, 0  1, we set in Eq. (1.3) sin ./  
and obtain the differential equation of the harmonic oscillator:
g
R C  D 0 : (1.5)
`
Together with the initial conditions (1.4) we arrive at the solution

.t/ D 0 cos.!t/ ; (1.6)

Fig. 1.1 Schematic

illustration of the pendulum
1.1 Motivation 3

p
with ! D g=`. The period  of the pendulum follows immediately:
s
`
 D 2 : (1.7)
g

However, if the approximation of a small angular displacement 0  1 is not

applicable, expressions (1.6) and (1.7) will not be valid. Thus, it is advisable to
apply energy conservation in order to arrive at analytic results. The total energy of
the pendulum is given by:

1 2 1
ED mv C mg` Œ1  cos ./ D mv02 C mg` Œ1  cos .0 / : (1.8)
2 2

Here v is the velocity of the point mass m and v0 and 0 are defined by the initial
P
conditions (1.4). Since .0/ D 0 we have

E D mg` Œ1  cos .0 /

 
2 0
D 2mg` sin ; (1.9)
2

where we made use of the relation: 1  cos.x/ D 2 sin2 .x=2/. We use this result in
Eq. (1.8) and arrive at:
    
1 2 0 
v D 2g` sin2  sin2 : (1.10)
2 2 2

Since v 2 D `2 P 2 we have
r s    
P g 2 0 2 
 D2 sin  sin : (1.11)
` 2 2

Separation of variables yields

r Z 
g 1 d'
tD q '  ; (1.12)
` 2k 0 1 1
sin2
k2 2

with k D sin .0 =2/ : For t D  we have  D 0 and we obtain for the period
s Z
2 ` 0 d'
D q  : (1.13)
k g 0 1  k12 sin2 '2
Chapter 2
Numerical Differentiation

2.1 Introduction

This chapter is the first of two systematic introductions to the numerical treatment
of differential equations. Differential equations and, thus, derivatives and integrals
are of eminent importance in the modern formulation of natural sciences and
in particular of physics. Very often the complexity of the expressions involved
does not allow an analytical approach, although modern symbolic software can
ease a physicists life significantly. Thus, in many cases a numerical treatment is
unavoidable and one should be prepared.
We introduce here the notion of finite differences as a basic concept of numerical
differentiation [1–3]. In contrast, the next chapter will deal with the concepts
of numerical quadrature. Together, these two chapters will set the stage for a
comprehensive discussion of algorithms designed to solve numerically differential
equations. In particular, the solution of ordinary differential equations will always
be based on an integration.
This chapter is composed of four sections. The first repeats some basic concepts
of calculus and introduces formally finite differences. The second formulates
approximates to derivatives based on finite differences, while the third section
includes a more systematic approach based on an operator technique. It allows
an arbitrarily close approximation of derivatives with the advantage that the
expressions discussed in this section can immediately be applied to the problems
at hand. The chapter is concluded with a discussion of some additional aspects.

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 17

B.A. Stickler, E. Schachinger, Basic Concepts in Computational Physics,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-27265-8_2
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Wits' End
 This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United
States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you
are not located in the United States, you will have to check the
laws of the country where you are located before using this
eBook.

Title: Wits' End

Author: Amy Ella Blanchard

Illustrator: L. J. Bridgman

Release date: September 2, 2023 [eBook #71546]

Language: English

Original publication: Boston: Dana Estes & Company, 1909

Credits: David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online

Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
(This book was produced from images made available
by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITS' END

***
 WITS' END

BY AMY E. BLANCHARD

Author of "Two Girls," "Three Pretty Maids," "A Girl of 76,"

"Janet's College Career," "A Journey of Joy," etc.

Illustrated by
L. J. BRIDGMAN

BOSTON
DANA ESTES & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1909
By Dana Estes & Company

All rights reserved

 Electrotyped and Printed by
THE COLONIAL PRESS
C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, U.S.A.
 CONTENTS
I. The Island
II. The Cottage
III. A Helper
IV. A Tempest and a Teapot
V. The Singing Waves
VI. Pebbly Beach
VII. White Horses
VIII. Suspicions
IX. If It Were Your Daughter
X. Over the Chafing-dish
XI. Daddy Lu
XII. A Bundle of Letters
XIII. "Three Fishers Went Sailing"
XIV. "The Clouds Ye so Much Dread"
XV. On the Deck of the Domhegan
XVI. "'Twixt Tide and Tide's Returning"
XVII. The End of the Season
XVIII. On Haskins' Island
XIX. A Tale That Is Told
XX. In Another Year
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"He stopped short at the sight of the girl"
"He bent down to observe her more closely"
"'Unfortunately, I am not a miniature painter'"
"'That lazy Manny settin' outside on the back porch'"
"'If you don't mind it, I'll call you Daddy Lu'"
"'Good evening, Mr. Hilary'"
"He caught her hand and kissed the blue-veined wrist"
WITS' END
 CHAPTER I
THE ISLAND
The tide was half way out, and the rocks were already showing
strange shaggy shapes as the water retreated from their weed-
draped sides. A man, who had just beached his dory and had loaded
his wheelbarrow with gaping cod and shining mackerel, stood
looking off toward the cliffs for a moment before he should trundle
his burden up the slanting path which led toward a group of white
houses.
"Look like buffaloes," he said to himself. "That furthest one's most
like a lion." He turned his gaze from the rocks to the pile of fish in his
barrow. "You poor miserable wide-mouthed critturs," he said.
"There's nothing I know of that can look so down-at-mouth as a fish
out of water. Every day I think I'll give up, and I don't. What would I
do if I did? I guess it's good for me to see something unhappy-
looking: it makes me feel as if I weren't the sorriest wretch in the
world. Maybe I'm not, either."
He took up the handles of his barrow and started along the path,
which led past clumps of bayberry bushes and thickets of wild roses,
into a grove of pines, and at last emerged before the door of one of
the white houses which, at intervals, dotted the island. It was early
morning and as Luther Williams came into the open, he met a party
of workmen swinging along, dinner pails in hand. They hailed him
cheerily. "Good catch, Mr. Williams?"
"Pretty fair," was the response. "What's going on to-day, boys?"
"We cal'late to start Miss Elliott's cawtage," said the foremost.
"Another cottage?" Luther Williams frowned. "Where is it going to be,
Thad?"
"Oh, down along. Sot right on the rawks, she cal'lates to have it.
What she wants to be down there where she'll hear all that bellerin',
is more than I know, but women-folks are cranky."
They passed on, through the stile and over the hummocky ground
toward the sea while Luther stood still. "Elliott," he said, "Elliott." He
watched the men till they finally stopped on a knoll a few feet from
the shore line, when he trundled his barrow around the corner of the
house and was lost to view.
The men on the knoll stood for a few moments looking off at the blue
waves which sparkled and danced in the morning light. White-sailed
ships, like pale moths, poised on the water. A line of foam curled
along the edge of the crags, and the murmuring ripples sang a
gentle plaint as they stole in upon a small stretch of shelly beach.
"There ain't no bellerin' this morning," said one of the men. "She's
only sloppin' in."
"She pounded pretty hard last night," responded another. "Kept me
awake."
"Nawthin' keeps me awake," returned the first beginning to drive a
stake into the ground.
"Where's this Miss Elliott from?" asked Mart Johnson. "She's noo,
ain't she?"
"She was up here for a week last summer," Thad Eaton answered.
"Liked the place and bought this lawt in Ben's pasture. She's from
down around Baltimore or Washington, I hear."
"Single woman?"
"Yeah. Ben says he'd rather sell to them and widders, then he knows
there'll be no men-folks trying to get the best of him. He's terrible
afraid of city sharpers. Moreover, he says he don't care about a
passel of children traipsing over his land."
The four men worked mightily to lift the great stones which they laid
for the foundation of the cottage. There were many orders of "Shove
her a little to the west'ard, Jim." "Jest a little wee mite to the
north'ard," and the work went on so rapidly that in a short time the
length and breadth of the foundation were evident.
Down by the cove, toward which the houses of the fishermen faced,
a half busy, half idle life went on. At the fish house the morning's
catch was being weighed. The lobstermen came in one after another
from hauling their traps. Captain Purdy's vessel lay at anchor, her
crew lounging about with tales of the last cruise. Luther Williams
stood listening to the good-natured chaff. Big Mil Stevens was
weighing the fish, once in a while putting in a humorous word as the
others talked. A fat-faced, round-bodied man, ready with anecdotes,
sat on an overturned keg.
"What ye think Hen Fosdick was telling me, yist'day?" he said. "Told
me he didn't think nawthin' of eatin' a six pound cawd all by himself.
Said he'd done it. Showed me one 'bout the size of what he'd eat the
day before. 'Bout like this." He touched with the toe of his boot a
slippery fish which lay on the floor. "Said it didn't bawther him a mite
to eat it all."
"What do you think of that, Mil?" asked one of the men.
Mil slid a shining mass from the scales. "Wal," he drawled, "I think he
was either a hawg or a liar." A shout of laughter went up at this in
which Luther Williams joined. When he laughed the man's whole
face changed, and one might have said that at one time he knew
well how to be merry. He was a man above medium height, spare of
flesh, with far-seeing eyes and a mouth whose melancholy droop
seldom altered to a smile. He wore a close-cut beard and mustache,
and his iron gray hair where it was not too short curled about his
forehead. He was not much of a talker, but was evidently held in
respect, for in that community, where even children called their
elders by their first name, he was the only one dignified by the title of
"Mister." Leaving the jolly crew, he trundled his barrow out of the fish
house over the boards of the boat-landing, and on uphill to where the
white cottages shone out in the brightness of the May morning. At
the rear of one of the houses he stopped and went in. The room he
entered was a cheerful sunshiny kitchen with painted floors of yellow,
doors of blue, mouldings of pink. It was fresh and clean. Geraniums
blossomed in the windows. The great stove sent out almost too
intense a heat for the day, but the woman at the table making pies
would have scorned to open a window. She was a small, neat-
featured person, light-haired, blue-eyed, faded before her time. She
wore a gray calico gown of indefinite pattern.
"Where's Miss Phenie?" asked Luther Williams, throwing himself
down on the lounge in the corner.
"She's getting the room ready for the boarders," Miss Phosie
answered. The Tibbett sisters rejoiced in the names of Tryphena and
Tryphosa.
"Boarders? What boarders?" Mr. Williams raised himself on one
elbow and looked alert.
"Ain't you heard, Mr. Williams? We're going to take Miss Elliott and
her niece till their house is ready. She wants to be here where she
can overlook it, and Almira Green says she can't take anybody till
June. I don't blame Miss Elliott for wanting to be on hand, so sister
and me talked it over, and as Almira said Miss Elliott was so
persistent and we'd no excuse when we already had one boarder,
we gave in. To be sure I said you wasn't like common boarders,
seeing that you'd been here twenty years. But then it did seem
churlish to refuse when we meant to take boarders anyhow this year,
and what difference did a few weeks, sooner or later, make? So we
said we'd try to accommodate 'em, and they're coming on the boat
to-day."
"Humph!" ejaculated Luther from his corner.
"I told sister you'd be upsot," Miss Phosie went on as she rolled out
her pie-crust, "but she said you'd have your breakfast before sun up
anyway, and could have your other meals here in the kitchen, as you
always do, so she guessed you wouldn't be bothered much by 'em.
You never was much for seeing folks, Mr. Williams, and I guess we
won't insist on your settin' up and makin' yourself agreeable if you
don't want to."
Mr. Williams gave a short laugh and settled back while Miss Phosie
went on with her pie-making. He drew a book from his pocket and
lay back to read, but somehow he could not fix his mind on the
pages. His thoughts would wander back to that time which had been
newly brought to remembrance by the name of Elliott. He sat up,
dropped his head between his hands and was lost in memories. Yes,
it had been nearly twenty years since he came to Fielding's Island.
He had come for a week's stay and had remained for a score of
years. Old Captain Ben Tibbett had taken him in and he had stayed
on and on. In these twenty years the Tibbett girls had grown to be
middle-aged women, the island, then a lonely spot whose aloofness
had been its chief charm, was growing to be popular. First one then
another wandering visitor had discovered its beauties, had bought a
plat of ground, and had built a cottage. The channel between the
island and the mainland, once crossed only by sailing-vessels or
row-boats, was now the highway for a steamboat which touched
daily at the new wharf and brought the mail. In those early days the
mail-bag was sent over from the Neck in a dory, and few were the
letters it contained. Then the low-roofed houses all faced the cove,
most of them nestling down in the more sheltered spots under the
hill; now the summer residents had their cottages all looking seaward
and the line of these was increasing year by year. "I shall have to
go," said Luther Williams aloud.
Miss Phosie looked around in surprise. "Dear suz!" she exclaimed,
"what do you mean, Mr. Williams?"
The man rose to his feet, picked up his hat and said, "I must be
going down along, Phosie."
"It's most dinner time," she warned him.
"I'll be back in time," he assured her as he closed the door after him.
"He don't like it a mite," Miss Phosie soliloquized. "I never did see a
man so sot against outsiders, unless it be Mil Stevens. Mil can't
abide them, though I can't see that they do a namable thing to him.
He maintains that they overrun the place and look down on us that
belongs here, says they call us Islanders, and they're so high and
mighty he calls 'em Highlanders. Well, I don't see that either name
hurts much. One's about as good as the other and neither's bad. But
Mr. Williams is different. He has a solitary kind of disposition like one
of these hermits you read about. I wish I knew why. I wish I knew.
There's one thing certain, he sha'n't be put to inconvenience. I'll
stand between him and bother if I can."
She shoved her pies into the oven and added another pinch of tea to
that already brewing on the stove. The teapot was never empty but
stood all day where Cap'n Ben could get a cup of the hot black
infusion whenever he came in. Miss Phenie, too, frequently liked to
indulge in a draught from the brown teapot.
"They ought to be ready by this time," said Miss Phosie looking up at
the clock which was set by sun time and was far ahead of Luther
Williams' watch. "I wonder where father is and Ora."
She passed out of the kitchen and on through the pantry into the
sitting-room. This was empty though showing the late presence of
Cap'n Ben, for his pipe lay on the window-sill and his yesterday's
paper was on a chair. Miss Phosie hearing voices in the room
beyond, gathered that the family had congregated there. Beyond the
sitting-room was the entry, oilcloth covered, chill and clean. From it a
straight staircase led to the rooms above. On either side the entry
were the best rooms, the parlor opened only on state occasions, and
the spare chamber reserved for such particular company as the
minister or some such dignitary. It was the spare chamber which
Miss Phenie was preparing for the coming boarders, and it was here
that Miss Phosie found her sister, her father and her niece Ora.
"Well, I swan, Phosie!" ejaculated Cap'n Ben as his daughter came
in. "You ain't come to call us to dinner yet, hev ye?"
"Not yet," Miss Phosie told him. "I wondered where you all were, and
I wanted to ask Phenie if I'd better bake two kinds of cake, or if one,
with the gingerbread, would do."
"You'd better bake two," said Miss Phenie, putting an added touch to
the mantel by setting an advertising calendar thereon. "They say
Miss Elliott's quite particular. Father, you'll have to fix that door; it
don't latch, and Miss Elliott won't feel safe."
"Wun't?" said Cap'n Ben pulling up his ponderous weight from the
chair in which he sat. "I'd like to know who she thinks is going to
carry her off. They'd drop her pretty quick if they did ketch her up by
mistake, wouldn't they, Ora?"
Ora giggled and stood off to see the effect of the arrangement of the
dressing-bureau on which she had placed a very hard, red velvet
pincushion, a shell-covered box and an extremely ornate glass vase.
"It looks real nice," said Miss Phosie admiringly. "I'll go stir up the
cake. I guess I can get one in before dinner."
"You go help her, Ora," commanded the girl's grandfather. "I guess
Phenie can spare you now."
"I did want her to help me make the bed," said Miss Phenie, a round-
faced, rather stout woman, who must have been good looking in her
youth, but who, like most of the women on the island, had aged
early. Those who had not faded had grown heavy and hard featured.
Miss Phosie preserved her gentle expression, but exposure and hard
work had seamed the delicate skin and turned the slimness of youth
to angularity. Miss Phenie loved ease and was not inclined to do
more than she must, therefore she had grown stout, but the
sparkling prettiness of youth had given place to a certain coldness of
eye and sensuousness of mouth which indicated the growth of
selfishness. But for the authority of Cap'n Ben Miss Phosie would
have been more put upon than she was.
"Go on, Ora," said her grandfather, as the girl hesitated. "If Phosie
has two cakes to bake, she'll need two pairs of hands, and I cal'late
one woman's enough to make one bed."
So Ora joined Miss Phosie in the kitchen. She, like her younger aunt,
was fair-haired and blue-eyed, with the milk-white skin and delicately
tinted cheeks of the northern girl. She was but sixteen and was
already ambitious to have "a waist you could span." She therefore
wore a belt several inches too small for beauty, unaware that such
compression was out of fashion. Her hair was arranged in the
extremest of pompadours, but, alas! among her possessions she did
not count a toothbrush as her innocent mouth only too plainly
evidenced. However since most of her companions were no more
particular than herself, she did not realize how much her looks
suffered because of her neglect.
Miss Phosie looked up with a smile as her niece came in. "Could
Phenie spare you?" she asked.
"She had to. Grandpap said I was to help you."
"That's real nice," said Miss Phosie gratefully. "You just cream the
butter and sugar together in this bowl and I'll get the eggs. I must get
out my pies first. I hope the cake will turn out firstrate so's the
boarders will be satisfied."
"I guess they'll have to be," returned Ora with a little toss of her
head. "Nobody asked them to come."
"Now Ora, that ain't the right spirit," reproved Miss Phosie. "They'll
pay for what they get, and we hadn't ought to take their money
without making a proper return. That would be next door to stealing."
"That's not the way Aunt Phenie talks," answered Ora. "She says if
we put ourselves out to accommodate them they'd ought to be
satisfied with what they can get."
"We ain't putting ourselves out so very much, and if we are we're
doing it in order to earn their money," replied Miss Phosie. "I guess
they'll be satisfied, and I don't see the use of talking in that stiff-
necked way. The niece will be nice company for you, Ora."
"She won't be then," returned Ora with a quick movement of her
spoon. "I can get along without the Highlanders as well as they can
without me."
"You hadn't ought to talk that way, Ora," Miss Phosie continued her
reproof. "I realize that us natives haven't so much in common with
city folks, and yet I'm perfectly willing to be polite to them when they
are to me. I haven't a doubt but what they'd treat us well if we went
to where they live. I don't believe in being so stand-offish as some
are."
Ora made no reply but continued to stir the butter and sugar
vigorously.
"We don't know their ways and they don't know ours," Miss Phosie
went on, "and while maybe we can't be as intimate with them as we
can be with those we've been brought up with, I don't see why we
can't be polite and friendly like your grandpap is. Everybody likes
and respects him."
"I don't want to be liked and respected except by them I like and
respect," retorted Ora obstinately.
"There comes Zerviah Hackett," said Miss Phosie. "She'll want to
know everything I suppose. Well, I can't stop to talk. She'll have to
go to Phenie."
Miss Zerviah Hackett was the newsmonger of the place. Not an ill-
natured gossip at all; quite the contrary, but nothing went on that her
vigilant eye did not observe; nothing was planned about which she
did not have an opinion. They were often good opinions too, just as
her advice was good, and her views of life sound. But, as Miss
Phosie often plaintively said: "Zerviah can't even see you darn a
stocking without telling you how it ought to be done." Miss Hackett
was not the sharp-eyed, angular woman her name would suggest,
but was plump and fair, though possessed of a voice which shrilled
out like a steamboat whistle, in striking contrast to the unusually
pleasant tones of her neighbors. She was a small person, though
one whose presence could not be ignored. She now entered the
kitchen without knocking,—all had that privilege when they came to
Cap'n Ben's,—and throwing off her shawl, she began: "Busy getting
ready for your boarders, are you, Phosie? Well, I hear they're coming
to-day. I hope Thad Eaton won't be sot by the ears when Miss Elliott
gets here. He does hate to have women folks interfering while he's
building. It's going to be a right sightly cottage, he says, but I could
have told Miss Elliott she'd be kept awake nights by the noise, so
near the water."
"She's been here before. She knows what it's like, Zerviah," said
Miss Phosie.
"Yes, but she didn't realize it, like as not. She's going to have her
front door facing east'ard, too, and she'll regret that, I know."
"I don't see why," returned Miss Phosie.
"Now, Tryphosy Tibbett, you know the storms come that way, and the
rain'll beat in, and the wind."
"She won't be here in winter, and it won't matter much in summer."
"Of course it will matter. Well, it ain't my business, I suppose; but I do
hate to see things going wrong when they could be bettered. What
you making, Ora?"
"Cake," was the laconic reply.
"You've got gingerbread, too, I see. Going to give 'em both? What
kind you making?"
Ora told her.
"Well, I s'pose you're bound to feed 'em good, but as long as they
ain't going to stay any longer than they can get into their own house,
I don't see the odds. Thad cal'lates they'll be in by the middle of
June, but I s'pose you know that. He says they'd ought to have had
their well dug first, and I say so, too. Ten to one they won't strike
water."
"Asa Bates was up with his willow wand and he prophesies they'll
get a plenty," Miss Phosie told her.
"Well, I don't gainsay it, but they'll have to board up their windows
whilst the men are blowing the well."
"I hear they ain't going to begin the well till fall. They'll use Miss
Grey's well this summer. She's given them leave."
"That so? Then maybe they can make out, but I'd have had my well
before I did my house. Got the room ready for 'em?"
"Yes, Phenie is in there now."
"Then I'll go look at it. I won't get another chance, maybe." And Miss
Zerviah went confidently through to the best room, leaving Miss
Phosie and Ora with smiles on their faces and glad to be free of their
inquisitive caller.
 CHAPTER II
THE COTTAGE
The small steamer, after winding a tortuous way from island to
island, at last turned into the little cove, which made a safe harbor for
the fishermen of Fielding's Island. There were not many passengers
at this time of year, and there were, in consequence, few lookers-on
at the landing. Ira Baldwin, who combined the offices of shopkeeper
and postmaster, was there to receive the mail-bag. Manny Green
hung around ready for a jest with the purser. Cap'n Ben with his dog
Tinker at his heels, loomed up a conspicuous figure to welcome the
arriving guests. These stood on the deck waiting for the gang-plank
to be thrown across to the wharf. As the tide was up it made a steep
descent for Miss Elliott who crept down cautiously followed by her
niece, Gwendolin Whitredge, coming at a more fearless pace. Cap'n
Ben's big hand was there to give assistance at the last, and his
cheery voice was the first to greet the two.
"Got here all right, didn't ye? Right hawndsome day, ain't it? Give me
them traps. I'll lug 'em for ye."
"I can carry them," spoke up Gwen.
The captain turned his twinkling blue eyes upon her, and gave a
quick sideway jerk of his head. "Ain't going to le' ye. Women-folks
has petticoats to manage."
"Cap'n Ben, this is my niece, Gwendolin Whitredge," said Miss Elliott
hastening to give the introduction which had been wanting before.
"That's what I cal'lated she was," came the reply. "Didn't guess you'd
changed your mind and brought another gal along. Wal, Miss Elliott,
your cawtage is gettin' on. They've begun to shingle. Guess you're
glad of that."
"I am indeed. Will it be ready for us in time, do you think, Cap'n
Ben?"
"Don't take long to run 'em up, and when they git her roofed in the
weather don't make much difference. Pretty warm down your way?"
He turned with a smile to Gwen.
"It's beginning to be," she answered, smiling back and thinking, "we
shall be good friends, this old man and I. Ah, there is the ocean!" she
exclaimed as they took the rise of the hill. "I was beginning to be
disappointed, Aunt Cam."
"It does beat all how you city folks always want to get close to the
water," said Cap'n Ben. "I like to keep as far away from all that
bellerin' as I can, but here you go climbing over rawks, spending
your time watching waves, dragging in all sorts of stuff and sticking it
up in your houses. Why, last year somebody actually wanted one of
my old fish nets to hang up inside. Looked crazy enough when she
got it there, too, but I let her have it. I cal'lated it pleased her and
didn't hurt me."
Gwen laughed. "I can fancy it was very artistic," she said.
"Artistic! That's what you call it. Wal, I dunno. There was a man up
here last summer settin' round on the rawks making dauby looking
things I wouldn't give a nickel for, but he called 'em pictures, and
somebody said he got as much as a hundred dollars for one. That
stumped me. All the fools ain't dead yet, thinks I."
"I know a man who gets five hundred dollars for the smallest of his
pictures," said Gwen, "and for the big ones he gets several
thousand."
The captain cast his shrewd eyes upon her, and gave a chuckle.
"You think mine's too big a fish story, do ye? and you're going to get
ahead of me. All right, I'll believe you when I see the checks."
They had reached the white house by this time. The vines climbing
up the trellis at the side were putting forth young buds. Small green
shoots were beginning to appear in the garden which covered the
southern slope of the hill. Beyond the slope groups of fir trees
stretched their pointed tips toward the sky. Upon the hummocky
ground which undulated between the stile and the sea, the brown
reaches of grass were giving place to a tender emerald-hued growth,
violet-strewn in patches. Upon the gray lichen-covered rocks which
had failed to gather sufficient soil for a holding of grass roots, a few
fugitive strawberry plants had lodged, and were already combining
their green of leaf and red of stem with the soft neutral tints
surrounding them. Further away the line of cottages faced the sea
which sparkled and danced in the afternoon light. The sound of
hammers coming from the most distant of the cottages betokened
the carpenters at work. Mingled with this staccato was the rush of
waves beating against the rocky shore, but above all was the
sweetly insistent note of a song-sparrow, "sitting alone on the
housetop."
Gwen looked around and breathed a long sigh. "Now I know how
beautiful it is," she said. "I'd like to explore it all at once. How can I
wait?"
"There is plenty of time," returned her aunt, as they followed the
captain into the house.
But it was only a few minutes that they spent inside, just long enough
to speak to Miss Phenie and Miss Phosie, to rid themselves of
superfluous wraps and to drop their hand luggage, then out they
went into the fresh air, full of the tang of the sea, but sweet with the
odors of the new spring. Through the stile to Cap'n Ben's pasture
their way led over the hummocks to the point where a small cove
made in, separating Simms' Point from that upon which the new
cottage was going up.
"Before I give one look at the cottage," said Gwen taking her stand
upon a flat rock just below the porch, "I want to observe a little of this
outside world. What a view! You have seen it before, Aunt Cam, and
you can watch them drive nails if you like. As for me I shall feast my
eyes first."
"Very well," said her aunt, "I shall have plenty of time to do that after
a while. What I am most concerned about now is the setting of those
windows. I am almost sure they are too high, though I specially
stipulated that they were to be but twenty-one inches from the floor.
Come in when you are ready, Gwen."
She carefully picked her way across the floor beams of the porch
and entered the cottage, leaving Gwen standing on the craggy point
of rocks, gazing seaward. Directly ahead was the unbroken expanse
of ocean, its far horizon dotted by a few white sails. To the right lay
Simms' Point, a freshly green slope which further up ended in a
growth of sombre firs. Beyond the point a lighthouse was visible, and
a small island over which a solitary tree kept watch. To the left a
misty line of shore curved tenderly to embrace the waters of the bay
whose further islands melted into the mainland, but whose nearer
ones gemmed the deep blue of the water.
"How beautiful it is! How beautiful!" breathed Gwen. "I never
dreamed it would be so lovely. And to think I am to have a whole
summer of it! That is almost too good to be true." She delicately
made her way over the jutting ledges of rock and sought her aunt
whom she found in lively debate with the builder.
"But I wanted this room a foot and a half wider, Mr. Eaton," Miss
Elliott was saying. "It was marked so on the plan."
"I know it, Miss Elliott," the man answered pleasantly, "but I cal'lated
you didn't realize just how small that would make the next room."
"But I did. I knew precisely," said Miss Elliott helplessly. "I don't see
why you didn't follow the plan exactly."
"Well, the truth of the matter is, I wasn't here the day the men put up
the partition," said Thad amiably. "I had to go to Portland that day to
see about lumber."
"And the fireplace," went on Miss Elliott, hopeless to better things; "it
was to be like the one in Miss Colby's house."
"That's what you said," returned Thad, "but I think this is a heap
prettier, and I thought you'd be better pleased with it."
Miss Elliott turned desperately to her niece, raised her eyebrows,
and shrugged her shoulders. "It's no use," she said.
"It's dear; it's perfectly dear," cried Gwen looking around admiringly.
"The fireplace, made of the natural rocks, is perfectly fascinating. I
love those diamond panes, and that row of low windows. We'll have
a divan under them, won't we? Then I can lie there and look out. I
gazed at the little balcony from the outside, and it is simply charming.
Now I want to see everything, 'upstairs, downstairs, and in my lady's
chamber.' Oh, Aunt Cam, I can't tell you how happy I am, nor how
lovely I think it all. What fun we shall have getting everything in order.
I can scarcely wait till the cottage is finished and the furniture here."
"Thank goodness, there is a place to put it," said Miss Elliott. "I have
been at my wits' ends to know what to do with all my belongings. At
last I have a safe place to store them. I can dump in here everything,
over and above what we can make use of in the winter, turn the key
and leave it when I please."
"I've thought of it," said Gwen suddenly bringing her hands together.
"Of what?"
"A name for the cottage. We'll call it Wits' End. It is the end, you see.
The end of this part of the island, for we can't go any further without
crossing this little cove, or going around it, and you were at your wits'
end when you conceived the idea of building here. Don't you think it
will be a nice odd sort of name?"
Miss Elliott nodded approval. "Yes, I like it. Wits' End it shall be. That
much is settled. Now, we will explore."
As Gwen said, it was "upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's
chamber" that they made their investigations, stepping cautiously
along the timbers, picking their way over heaps of shavings, avoiding
unprotected openings, swinging around corners while they held on to
the studs, creeping up the unfinished stairs, commenting on this,
criticizing that, admiring the views from each window and finally
going away better satisfied than, at first, they had hoped to be.
"He is really doing beautifully," said Gwen. "Never mind if it isn't
exactly as you planned in some ways; he has improved it in others,
and he is such a perfect dear I shouldn't care what he did, so long as
he made it comfortable. Oh, auntie dear, I am glad you and I are
chums, for we are going to have such a good time in my summer's
holiday."
Miss Elliott proceeded leisurely while she watched with loving eyes
the slim graceful figure of the girl who ran on ahead. "It will do her a
world of good," she said to herself. "It is just what she needs."
Gwen sprang from hummock to hummock, stopping to gather a
violet, pausing to listen to a song-sparrow, turning her face seaward
to take in the beauty of the eastern scene, and at last waiting at the
stile for her aunt. She had just reached this point when a man came
along a footpath leading from the little cove past Cap'n Ben's garden.
He stopped short at sight of the girl, turned quite pale as he stood
gazing at her, then with a lifting of the hat he passed on. Gwen
watching, saw him enter the kitchen door of Cap'n Ben's house.
 HE STOPPED SHORT AT SIGHT OF THE GIRL.

"I seem to have made an impression," she said as her aunt came up.
"I didn't know strangers were such a rarity here that people stared at
them the way that man did at me. I wonder who he is and what made
him look so taken by surprise."
"Oh, I suppose he didn't know that any of the summer residents had
arrived," returned Miss Elliott, "and he wondered who you were and
where you came from. There aren't usually any summer visitors here
before the middle of June."
"I suppose that must have been it," returned Gwen, at the same time
feeling that it did not quite explain matters.
At the side door, by which it seemed they were expected to enter,
they met Ora. She turned away her head and hurried around to the
kitchen.
"What a pretty girl," said Gwen, looking after her. "Such a lovely
complexion. But, oh dear, why does she lace so painfully? Doesn't
she know wasp waists are all out of style? That they belong to the
early Victorian age and passed out with ringlets and high
foreheads?"
"She probably doesn't know," returned Miss Elliott. "I notice that
many of the girls up here still cling to the traditions of their
grandmothers in more than one direction. I have heard that one, at
least, died from the effects of tight lacing."
"Then they need a missionary as much as the heathen Chinee
does," observed Gwen as she entered the house.
She had gone out bareheaded but she tossed aside the golf-cape,
which was none too warm for out-door wear, and sat down by the
window. Miss Phenie, established in a comfortable rocking-chair,
was quite ready for a chat while she knitted a "sweaterette" as she
called it. Miss Phosie was in the kitchen getting supper, but Miss
Phenie felt that it was due to her position as elder sister to entertain
the guests rather than to give a hand to the evening's work. It was
always her attitude and one of which no one had ever heard Miss
Phosie complain. The most that she had ever done was to remark to
Almira Green: "It's very easy to be hospitable when you do the
entertaining and some one else does the work." But that was under
great provocation when the minister, the surveyor, the doctor and the
editor of The Zephyr had all arrived on the island in one day and all
had been entertained at Cap'n Ben's house because there seemed
nowhere else for them to go. On that occasion Miss Phenie, as
usual, had asserted her right to the position of hostess, and had left
Miss Phosie alone to wash the dishes as well as to get the dinner,
Ora having gone to Portland for the day.
"Well," said Almira Green to whom Miss Phosie's remark was made,
"there was Cap'n Ben to do the talking, and as they was all men I
don't see why Phenie was called upon to set with them all the time."
"I guess she thought she had to," Miss Phosie had returned with the
feeling that perhaps she had said too much.
To-day, however, there was not much reason for Miss Phenie's
presence in the kitchen, for, while Miss Phosie made the soda
biscuits Ora could be setting the table. The lobsters had been boiled
that morning, so there were only the fish and potatoes to fry, and the
preserves to be set on the table with the cake. Miss Phenie, in tight
fitting black alpaca, rocked comfortably and asked questions till
Gwen, by the window, saw Luther Williams pass. "Who is that, Miss
Phenie?" she asked. "That tall man with the serious face and the
kind eyes?"
"I guess you mean Mr. Williams. I presume he is taking his after
supper smoke. He boards with us, you know."
"Oh!" Gwen wondered why he had not appeared at the table. "Is he
a relative of yours?"
"None in the world, and we never heard that he had any. He gets a
daily paper and advertising letters sometimes, but I never knew him
to get any other mail. He's real well educated, and reads everything
he can lay his hands on, but he is a very quiet man. He never talks
much to anybody, but there ain't a kinder man living. If anybody's in
trouble he's the first on hand, and the first to put his hand in his
pocket."
"Is he a fisherman?"
"Yes. His pound is just off your point. He's been real lucky and it's
said he's right well off."
"Has he boarded with you long?"
"Ever since he came to the island; that's about twenty years now. He
came for a week's fishing, he said, and he's stayed ever since. I
never heard a word against Mr. Williams. Everybody likes him, and if
he is rather close-mouthed you don't hear him speak ill of anyone.